Rookie looking to protect and trap shoot

[Darebear]

I have handled a Charles Daly semi 10 gauge and the classic 870. I like both. I think I liked both because they were simple and practical and maybe because I didn't handle a variety of gauges and shotguns.

I want a 12 gauge for HD. and something I can shoot trap with. Im new so I need advice. I want reliability and simplicity. And i need to know if pistol grips are a benefit or just something cool looking? Should I go Semi or Pump? I can get a Semi Saiga 12, all done up, for about 600. I was told not to go Mossbergs by reputable hunters because of lack of quality. I've heard stories of guys breaking Mossbergs while shooting them. Is this true?

This is not for a Zombie outbreak or the post apocalyptic world. Simply HD and Trap shooting.

 

[Al Thompson]

870 with two barrels, one 18 or 20 inches long, one set up for trap. Pistol grips are very specialized devices and counter productive for home defense.

 

[Darebear]

870 with two barrels. Pistol grips are very specialized devices and counter productive for home defense.

Two barrels? I never shot a shotgun with two barrels.

 

[Jon_Snow]

It's really easy to swap out the barrel on an 870, or a Mossberg 500 for that matter. Many people get an 870 and keep a short (18") barrel at home and swap to a longer (26" or 28") barrel at the trap range. If you want to keep costs down, that's a good way to go. Whether you want/need two seperate guns for trap and HD depends on how serious you want to get about either.

 

[2WheelsGood]

Pistol grips are very specialized devices and counter productive for home defense.

just to be clear, there are pistol grip only shotguns, and there are shotguns with a stock and a pistol grip. Pistol grip only may be silly, but there's nothing wrong with one in addition to a full stock.

 

[243winxb]

12 ga.Trap guns have high combs. This is so you keep your head on the stock. The high comb also makes the gun shoot high. Makes up for the bird rising out of the trap house. If your tallking birds from a hand trap, any shotgun will do. Nothing wrong with Mossberg 500 combo with an extra barrel.

 

[oneounceload]

There are pistol grips and then there AR-style pistol grips. Regular shotgun like the 870 or 1100 with their pistol grip are often considered easier than a straight English stock

For both HD and trap, you'll need a gun with 2 barrels - one about 18.5, the other as long as you can get - 28"+.

A gun with an adjustable comb will allow you to utilize one gun even better

 

[bikemutt]

Unless shooting trap doubles you will only be loading and shooting a single shell at a time. Purpose-built trap guns are usually fixed-breach, break-barrel single shots, or two barrel over/under. In addition to other properties such as the high rib already mentioned and perhaps adjustable length of pull, drop at comb etc., these guns are designed pretty much for one purpose. It would be better than a broken stick for home defense probably.

I have shot trap with an auto-loader and found it to be burdensome compared to a true trap gun.

All that said though, if you only want to buy one gun for both I'd go with an auto-loader or pump.

From what I can tell, HD shotguns can be had real cheap, I'd personally buy one of those and a nice entry level over/under for the trap range.

 

[Smitty in CT]

The best value would be the Mossberg 930 Security / Field Combo:

They can be found for right around your budget.

Bud's Gun shop is selling them for $496, shipping included!!!
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/49886

 

[ByAnyMeans]

I would go for a Mossberg 500 combo. Outfit it with a Speedfeed stock (with or without pistol grip) and a XS big dot sight on the short barrel and you are good to go. I agree a PGO is for very specialized use and would want a full stock.

I go with the 500 over the 930 because I have always gone with pump shotguns but that is just personal preference.

I disagree with anyone who says Mossberg shotguns are crap. Granted a 870 is a great shotgun but besides location of the safety I cannot think of any reason to take one over the other aside from personal preference.

 

[kayak-man]

I have the 870, and I like it. If I had to buy it all over again, the only difference is I would have gone with 2 barrels. I have the 28" vent rib for trap/skeet, but would like to get something in the 20" range with ghost ring sights for competition/HD.... but thats probably not very helpful to you

As far as the pump guns go, I've heard good things about the Benellis, Winchesters, Mossbergs, and Remingtons. I like the Remington 870, but mostly out of personal preferance, and when you hold it, it feels like a quality gun.

And i need to know if pistol grips are a benefit or just something cool looking?

I don't think very many people are going to recomend the pistol grip only shotguns, but if you mean a pistolgrip/buttstock like an AR15 or AK47, you could go either way. I find that a plain stock (like what Smitty posted) is more ergonomic, and I can still tuck the stock under my arm to free up my other hand to open a door. Really, Its up to you.
You don't need the high comb or anything fancy on the stock, but if you like it, go for it. Personally, I think the plain stock is pretty comfortable. I prefer the my guns to look more classic than tacticool, so that might be part of your consideration about the stock style. For me, I like the traditional monte carlo stock more than a pistolgrip/buttstock combo.

I like pump shotguns more than autoloaders, but if you prefer the auto, go for it. Probably the best input that I can give is that you really do want to buy the two seperate barrels. I have no idea what your storage setup is like, but trying to get my 870 with the 28" barrel into the gun locker is a PITA. Some places will sell you a combo gun, that comes with both barrels.

If you decide to go with an autoloader, I think you can pick up Remington 1100s for pretty cheap, so I'd start looking there.

Should I go Semi or Pump? I can get a Semi Saiga 12, all done up, for about 600.

The Saigas are pretty cool guns (I have one of thier rifles, love it) but for me, I like pump guns. I've never felt like having to manually cycle the action slowed me down, but I'm usually shooting skeet, so I'm pumping while swinging to another target. Your milage may very. Right now, I think the prices of the S12 are a bit high, and that looks like its probably not a bad deal, but if you wait 6 or 7 months, the prices will probably come down. From a sporting stand point, I think a more convential shotgun works pretty well, but if the S12 is what you've got your heart set on, then get it. For home defense, I think its a 50/50 as to wether or not a S12 is any better than an 1100 or 870. This is mostly my opinion, and since I never was that great a trap shooter, and have never been in a gunfight, my opinion isn't worth all that much.

Theres a thread running right now comparing a pump shotgun to an autoloader like an S12, and it might be a good idea to check it out.

Hope this helps, and sorry if I kind of rambled a bit.

Chris "the Kayak-Man" Johnson

 

[BAD_KARMA]

+1 on the 930 combo. The 930 is a good shotgun. Sounds like you are new to shotguns. the gas operation will keep the recoil down and allow you to shoot more.

Saigas are ok but the barrel is too short for serious trap or sporting clays

pistol grip only shot guns IMHO are worthless. A buttstock tucked under the arm makes the regulation shotgun much more controllable. Also you can't buttstock someone with a pistol grip only shotgun.